Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Prospero De Vera III clarified that only merit scholarships or those that are based on the grades of students were affected by the lack of funds.
“Ang hindi lang po napondohan o kulang ang pondo ng scholarship ng CHED ay iyong tinatawag na merit scholarship --- ito iyong scholarship na binibigay based on grades (The only thing that is not funded or lacks funding in CHED scholarship is what you call a merit scholarship --- this is the scholarship that is given based on grades),” De Vera explained during the Laging Handa briefing on Saturday, March 12.
Students apply for merit scholarships based on grades for CHED’s priority programs, De Vera explained. “Merit scholarship ay (is) grade-based, hindi ito (this is not) financial need-based kung hindi (but) grade-based),” he added.
CHED announced last week that the application to CHED Scholarship Program (CSP) for incoming first-year college students for Academic Year (AY) 2022-2023 will be “temporarily” suspended.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/03/03/ched-temporarily-suspends-scholarship-application-for-incoming-freshmen-due-to-budget-inadequacy/
“Sinuspinde nating tumanggap ng mga bagong application sa CHED merit scholarship dahil kulang ang pondo, iyon lang ang apektado (We have suspended accepting new applications for CHED merit scholarships due to lack of funding, that is all that is affected),” De Vera explained.
Since the funds given to CHED are insufficient, De Vera said that the Commission can only provide funds for the continuing scholars.
De Vera explained that the suspension of application for merit scholarship affects around 5,000 slots for scholarships. This, he noted, is “smaller” compared to the overall financial assistance program of CHED.
The Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), De Vera said, covers 500,000 scholars. The “Tulong Dunong” program also has more than 200,000 scholars.
“Hindi apektado iyan so huwag kayong mag-alala, para sa ating mga TES at Tulong Dunong beneficiaries, may pondo, kumpleto ang pondo ng TES at saka Tulong Dunong under Free Higher Education Law (That is not affected so don't worry, for our TES and Tulong Dunong beneficiaries, there is funding, the TES funding is complete and also Tulong Dunong under Free Higher Education Law),” De Vera explained.
Meanwhile, De Vera enjoined those who are affected by the suspension of application for a merit scholarship to apply for other assistance programs offered by CHED.
“Puwede silang mag-apply doon sa ibang scholarship (They can apply for other scholarships),” De Vera said.
For instance, if students are from 4Ps families, they can apply in TES under Free Higher Education and they can also apply to CHED's regional offices for the “Tulong Dunong” programs. “Iyong iba pong scholarship ay bukas din naman sa kanila (The other scholarships are also open to them),” he added.